Apparatus for the continuous application of glue

ABSTRACT

The apparatus includes a body portion with a glue container mounted thereon. A feed roller is rotatably mounted in the glue container. An applicator roller is also rotatably mounted on the body portion in spaced relation to the glue container. Idler rollers are also rotatably mounted on the body portion. An endless flexible band is reeved about the feed roller, idler rollers and applicator roller. The endless band is arranged to pick up glue in the glue container and convey the glue on a surface of the band to a location adjacent the applicator roller where the glue on the band is deposited on an element to be glued. A stripper device is provided to remove the glue on the reverse side and side edges of the band as the band emerges from the glue container. A glue thickness control device is provided to control the thickness of the layer of glue on the front side of the band.

United States Patent 1191 Spielvogel 14 1 Nov. 18, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh APPLICATION OF GLUE Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stanley J. Price, Jr.; Boyce [76] Inventor: Ulrich Spielvogel, Lenneper Strasse Dem 13, 5630 Remscheid, Gennany [22] Filed: May 13, 1974 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. N0.: 469,501 The apparatus includes a body portion with a glue container mounted thereon. A feed roller is rotatably mounted in the glue container. An applicator roller is [30] Forelgn Apphcauon Monty Data also rotatably mounted on the body portion in spaced 1973 Germany 2324834 relation to the glue container. Idler rollers are also rotatably mounted on the body portion. An endless flexi- [52] US. Cl; 118/203; 118/209; 118/2 ble band is reeved about the feed roller, idler rollers [S Cli t and applicator rollen The endless band is a ranged to [58] Fleld of Search 1 18/257, 204, 209, 203; pick up m in the g|ue container and Convey the glue 401/208, 21; 68/204 on a surface of the band to a location adjacent the applicator roller where the glue on the band is deposited 156] References Clted on an element to be glued. A stripper device is pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided to remove the glue on the reverse side and side 858,542 7/1907 Rummel et al. 118/257 x edges of the band as the band emerges fmm the glue 997.672 7/1911 Hawkes 113/2 2 x container, A glue thickness control device is provided 1.153.585 9/1915 Vicars 1 118/257 X to control the thickness of the layer of glue on the 1.540.417 6/1925 Owens 1 18/257 X front Side Of the band. 1682.077 8/1972 Kent et a1. 118/203 X 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 i l O 4s a 4 57 21 I /4I- E' 1 U A l 32 35 2" 43 I 49 flaw A U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 1 0f 3 U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,919,970

US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus for the continuous application of glue and more particularly to glue applicator apparatus that includes an endless band.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art glue applicators include an intermediate applicator wheel on whose generated surface the glue is applied. This wheel then spreads the glue on the elements as, for example, cardboard boxes, corrugated paper and the like. It has, however, been discovered with this type of glue applicator the speed of the ma chine is severely limited because when the machine runs at a high speed, the glue is forcefully flung from the wheel and the apparatus gets dirty and contaminated very quickly. The known apparatus permits the two parts to be connected by the glue on the upper surface. However, it has been shown with the known apparatus where the length of the element to be glued is greater than the circumference of the wheel, insufficient glue is applied after the first revolution of the wheel. Further, it is not possible with the known apparatus to regulate the amount of glue on the wheel. There is a need for apparatus that eliminates the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for the continuous application of glue to separate elements to be adhesively secured, for example, to layers of cardboard in the fabrication of corrugated boxes and the like. The apparatus includes a body portion having a glue container mounted thereon'. The glue container has an open top portion, and a feed roller is rotatably mounted therein. An applicator roller is rotatably mounted on the body portion in spaced relation .to the glue container. An endless band is reeved about the feed roller and applicator roller. The endless band is arranged to convey glue on a surface thereof from the glue container to an element positioned in juxtaposition with the portion of the band reeved about the applicator roller.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus where the soiling or contamination is avoided even by fast-running machines, and the glue can also be applied to the surface of the elements or parts to be connected or glued. This is accomplished mainly by an intermediate applicator that is a shaped endless band guided over several rollers upwardly to an open glue container and to the location for the application of glue. This accomplishes in a simple manner guiding the band between rollers in a desired manner so that the glue on the band can be applied to the surface of the elements.

It is preferred to lead or guide the band over at least one roller, i.e. a feed roller, through the glue container and to provide a stripping device for stripping all of the glue from the reverse surface andside edges of the band. With this arrangement only the front surface of the band has glue thereon and the front surface is guided to the location for glue application.

lt is also preferred to guide the band with that surface from which the glue has been stripped over the rollers to the work location and back to the glue container. The reverse side of the band abuts the idler rollers and the applicator roller and has no glue thereon and thus cannot soil or contaminate these rollers.

A stripping device is provided that has two discs abutting the side edges of the band. This simplifies stripping the glue from the side edges of the band. The stripping device has an element with an edge portion and the edge portion abuts the reverse surface of the band and is urged against the reverse side or surface of the band with a preselected force. This edge portion strips in a simple manner the glue from the reverse side of the band. It is an advantage that the element having the edge portion is positioned between the discs and connects the discs with each other and has a multi-cornered preferably rectangular cross section. When stripping the glue from the reverse surface of the band with the edge portion, the glue cannot be conveyed or pushed to the side edges of the band because in this area the discs are abutting the side edges of the band. The element has a multi-cornered configuration so that where desired each edge of the multi-cornered element can be used as a stripping edge.

The reverse side of the band and the side edges are preferably fashioned to be smooth and the glue side or the front side of the band is roughened. Thus, the glue can be easily stripped from the reverse side and the side edges. Since the front surface is rough, the glue will more readily adhere thereto. The band is endless and consists of a synthetic flexible material with an intermediate reinforcing layer to give the band sufficient strength.

The width of the rollers is somewhat less than the width of the band. This prevents the glue remaining on the side edges of the band from soiling or contaminating the running surfaces of the rollers.

The endless band guided out of the glue container is provided with an adjustable device for the adjustment of the thickness of the glue deposited on the band surface. This regulates in a simple manner the thickness of the glue conveyed by the surface of the band to the work location.

The adjustable member is cylindrically shaped and meshes with the discs which abut the side edges of the band so that the width of the adjustable member corresponds with the distance between both discs. This distributes in a simple manner the glue in equal thickness on the surface of the band without having the glue reach the side edges of the band.

The adjustable member is shiftable by a lead screw in the direction of the stripping edge and is adjustable so that it can be directed toward the stripping edge and the band cannot thus move away from the adjustable member.

The endless band is suitably lead through the glue container by the feed roller over other idler rollers to an applicator roller positioned below the glue container. The applicator roller has a relatively large diameter and works with the elements to be provided with glue. This arrangement conveys the band in a simple manner to the location of application where the glue is applied to the surface of an element. The applicator roller at this location works together with the element feed roller arranged below the applicator roller for feeding the elements to be glued.

The feed roller guiding the band through the glue container is suitably provided with notches, preferably rills, to the side of the band abutting the roller surface with gluev There is a preliminary stripper provided for the part of the band emerging from the glue container for both the front and reverse sides of the band that is located before the adjustable element. The preliminary stripper removes superfluous glue before the band reaches the adjustable stripper device.

The endless band is maintained in tension by an adjustable roller so that the band is conveyed tightly over the rollers to the location of glue application and is also driven by the applicator roller located at the location of glue application.

The adjustable or tensioning roller has a shaft positioned in a longitudinal opening in the base plate or body portion and is fixedly secured by a nut on the shaft with manual actuating means. This fastens the roller in a desired position. The tensioning roller is shiftable in a tensioning direction before it is fixed in position by a lever that has a supporting arm connected by an eccentric disc. This permits shifting of the roller in a tensioning direction before the roller is fixed into position.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more completely described and disclosed in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation illustrating the apparatus for the continuous application of glue.

FIG. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along the line lll-lll of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an idler roller taken in the direction of the arrow IV.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODlMENT The apparatus shown in the drawings includes a base plate or body portion which is vertically arranged and has a glue container 11 positioned thereon. The glue container has an open top portion. A rotatable feed roller 12 is rotatably positioned in the glue container. An endless band 13 is reeved over the feed roller l2 and is also guided over idler rollers 14 and 15 to a larger applicator roller 16. The applicator roller 16 is rotatably mounted on the body portion 10 at a location beneath the glue container 11. The endless band 13 is preferably made of a synthetic material and preferably reinforced with an intermediate layer (not shown). The endless band l3 has a reverse side 17 which is relatively smooth and side edges that are also smooth. The front side or surface of the band 18 is preferably roughened.

Band [3 is reeved or guided around the rollers l2, 14, 15 and 16 and is driven by roller 16. The drive means for roller 16 may be any conventional drive means and is not illustrated. The endless band 13 is thus arranged to move in the direction of the arrow 19. A glue stripping device generally designated by the numeral 20 is provided at a location above the glue container ll at a location where the band 13 emerges from the glue container ll. The glue stripping device 20 is arranged to strip all the glue from the reverse side 17 of band 13 and the side edges of band 13. Glue is, however, retained on the front side 18 of band 13 and the glue is conveyed to the applicator roller 16 where it is applied to an element.

The stripping device 20 has two spaced discs 21 abutting the side edges of the band 13. The discs 21 are connected to each other by a rectangular member or body portion 22. One of the edges 23 of the rectangular body portion 22 is urged against the reverse side 17 of band 13. This arrangement strips the glue from the reverse side 17 and the side edges of band 13. After an edge 23 is worn, the rectangular body can be turned so that a new edge 23 can be moved into abutting relation with the reverse side 17 of band 13.

There is an adjustable stop member 24 positioned above the glue container 11 and is located where the endless band 13 exits from the glue container 11. The adjustable stop 24 is arranged to regulate the thickness of the glue layer on the front side 18 of endless band 13. The adjustable stop 24 includes a cylinder 25 which extends downwardly between the discs 21 that abut the side edges of band 13. The width of the cylinder 25 corresponds to the distance between the discs 21. The cylinder 25 is adjustable in a direction toward and away from the stripper body portion 22 and particularly toward and away from the edge 23. The adjustable stop 24 includes a screw spindle 26 and a slide 27. The cylinder 25 is fastened to the slide 27 and the slide 27 is, in turn, shiftably mounted in a guide 28 provided on the base plate or body portion 10. The spindle 26 is rotatably mounted on an extension 29 of slide 27. The guide 28 has an extension 30 which threadedly engages the spindle 26. The spindle 26 is provided at its free end with an actuating lever 31. Thus, by turning the screw spindle 26, cylinder 25 can be shifted in the direction toward the stripping edge 23 of the rectangular body 22. This regulates in a simple manner the desired thickness of the glue on the front surface 18 of band 13.

The endless band 13 is provided with two preliminary strippers 32 and 33 at a location below the glue stripping device 20 and at a location where the endless band 13 emerges from the glue container H. The preliminary strippers 32 and 33 remove excess glue on the band front and reverse sides 18 and 17 before the band 13 moves into contact with the stripping apparatus 20 and the adjustable stop 24. These preliminary strippers consist of thin plates that strip the superfluous glue from the band 13.

' The width of the idler rollers 14 and 15 and applicator roller 16 is somewhat less than the width of the band 13 as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. With this arrangement, the glue which may remain on the side edges of the band 13 cannot reach the running surfaces of rollers l4, l5 and 16.

The feed roller 12 guiding band 13 through the glue container 11 is provided with recesses and preferably with rills 34 on its generated surface. This permits the glue to be deposited on the side of the band 13 abutting the generated surface of the feed roller 12.

As already discussed, the endless band 13, which is guided through the glue container ll by roller I2, is guided over additional idler rollers 14, 15 and over applicator roller 16 positioned below the glue container ll. The applicator roller 16 has a relatively large diameter and fonns the location of glue application. This roller 16 works together with an element feeder roller 36 positioned therebelow for the elements to be provided with glue. The element that passes between the band on applicator roller 16 and the surface of feeder roller 35 is not illustrated. The elements are fed between the applicator roller 16 and feeder roller 35 and are simultaneously provided with glue by band 13. The

quantity of glue can be adjusted according to the need and bottom stop mechanism 24. Further, since the glue is solely provided between front side 18 of band 13 the apparatus does not become contaminated quickly with glue and can run with great speed.

The endless band 13 is maintained in tension by roller l4. Roller 14 has a shaft 36 positioned in an elongated slot 37 in base plate 10. The shaft can be made stationary by a nut 38 with an actuating handle 30. Before the position of the shaft 36 is fixed, the band 13 is tensioned by rotating the eccentric member 41 by lever 40 to urge the shaft 36 upwardly in the slot 37. This arrangement provides the desired tension for the endless band 13.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue to an element comprising,

a body portion having a glue container mounted thereon, said glue container having an open top portion,

a feed roller rotatably mounted in said glue container,

an applicator roller rotatably mounted on said body portion in spaced relation to said glue container and defining the location for glue application to an element, and

an endless band reeved about said feed roller and said applicator roller and having a width greater than the widths of said feed roller and said applicator roller to prevent glue from being deposited on the surface of said feed and applicator rollers, said endless band arranged to pick up glue on a surface thereof as said band moves around said feed roller in said glue container and deposit said glue on an element positioned in juxtaposition with a portion of said band reeved about said applicator roller.

2. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted on said body portion, said endless band reeved about said idler rollers and said feed and applicator rollers,

one of said idler rollers adjustably positioned on said body portion and arranged to tension said endless band, and

said plurality of idler rollers each having a width less than the width of said endless band to prevent glue from being deposited on the surface of said idler rollers.

3. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 2 which includes,

an eccentric member rotatably mounted on said body portion,

one of said rollers having a shaft positioned in a slot in body member and abutting said eccentric member, and

means to rotate said eccentric member and displace said shaft in said slot and tension said endless band.

4. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

glue stripping means arranged to remove glue deposited on the back side and side edges of said endless band as said endless band emerges from said glue container.

5. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 4 in which said glue stripping means includes,

a pair of spaced disc members for stripping the glue from the side edges of said endless band,

said spaced disc members arranged to abut the side edges of said band.

6. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 5 which includes,

a cylindrically shaped element adjustably mounted on said body portion and arranged to control the thickness of the layer of glue deposited on the front side of said endless band.

said cylindrically shaped element positioned between said pair of spaced disc members,

said cylindrically shaped element having a length substantially equal to the distance between said spaced discs.

7. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 4 in which said glue stripping means includes,

a body portion having an edge portion positioned in abutting relation with the reverse side of said band, said edge portion arranged to strip glue from the reverse side of said endless band.

8. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 4 in which said glue stripping means includes,

a body portion having a plurality of edge portions, one of said edge portions positioned in abutting relation with the reverse side of said endless band,

a pair of disc members secured to the opposite ends of said body portion, said disc members abutting the side edges of said endless band,

said body portion edge portion arranged to strip glue from the reverse side of said endless band and said disc members arranged to strip glue from the sides of said endless band.

9. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

means for controlling the thickness of the layer of glue deposited on the front side of said endless band,

adjustment means to move said means toward and away from said band and adjust the thickness of the layer of glue deposited on the front side of said endless band.

10. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

an element feeder roller positioned below said applicator roller,

said element feeder roller having a width less than the width of said endless band to prevent glue from being deposited on the surface of said element feeder roller,

said element feeder roller and said applicator roller having diameters substantially larger than said feeder roller,

said element feeder roller and said applicator roller arranged to permit an element to pass therebetween so that glue on the front surface of said band is transferred to a surface of said element as said element passes between said rollers. 

1. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue to an element comprising, a body portion having a glue container mounted thereon, said glue container having an open top portion, a feed roller rotatably mounted in said glue container, an applicator roller rotatably mounted on said body portion in spaced relation to said glue container and defining the location for glue application to an element, and an endless band reeved about said feed roller and said applicator roller and having a width greater than the widths of said feed roller and said applicator roller to prevent glue from being deposited on the surface of said feed and applicator rollers, said endless band arranged to pick up glue on a surface thereof as said band moves around said feed roller in said glue container and deposit said glue on an element positioned in juxtaposition with a portion of said band reeved about said applicator roller.
 2. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes, a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted on said body portion, said endless band reeved about said idler rollers and said feed and applicator rollers, one of said idler rollers adjustably positioned on said body portion and arranged to tension said endless band, and said plurality of idler rollers each having a width less than the width of said endless band to prevent glue from being deposited on the surface of said idler rollers.
 3. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 2 which includes, an eccentric member rotatably mounted on said body portion, one of said rollers having a shaft positioned in a slot in body member and abutting said eccentric member, and means to rotate said eccentric member and displace said shaft in said slot and tension said endless band.
 4. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes, glue stripping means arranged to remove glue deposited on the back side and side edges of said endless band as said endless band emerges from said glue container.
 5. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 4 in which said glue stripping means includes, a pair of spaced disc members for stripping the glue from the side edges of said endless band, said spaced disc members arranged to abut the side edges of said band.
 6. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 5 which includes, a cylindrically shaped element adjustably mounted on said body portion and arranged to control the thickness of the layer of glue deposited on the front side of said endless band. said cylindrically shaped element positioned between said pair of spaced disc members, said cylindrically shaped element having a length substantially equal to the distance between said spaced discs.
 7. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 4 in which said glue stripping means includes, a body portion having an edge portion positioned in abutting relation with the reverse side of said band, said edge portion arranged to strip glue from the reverse side of said endless band.
 8. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 4 in which said glue stripping means includes, a body portion having a plurality of edge portions, one of said edge portions positioned in abutting relation with the reverse side of said endless band, a pair of disc members secured to the opposite ends of said body portion, said disc members abutting the side edges of said endless band, said body portion edge portion arranged to strip glue from the reverse side of said endless band and said disc members arranged to strip glue from the Sides of said endless band.
 9. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes, means for controlling the thickness of the layer of glue deposited on the front side of said endless band, adjustment means to move said means toward and away from said band and adjust the thickness of the layer of glue deposited on the front side of said endless band.
 10. Apparatus for the continuous application of glue as set forth in claim 1 which includes, an element feeder roller positioned below said applicator roller, said element feeder roller having a width less than the width of said endless band to prevent glue from being deposited on the surface of said element feeder roller, said element feeder roller and said applicator roller having diameters substantially larger than said feeder roller, said element feeder roller and said applicator roller arranged to permit an element to pass therebetween so that glue on the front surface of said band is transferred to a surface of said element as said element passes between said rollers. 